Ophthalmic mounting



Sept. 29, 1942. 1' w so 2,297,338

OPHTHALMIC MOUNTING Filed Sept. 24, 1938 Patented Sept. 29, 1942 OPHTHALMIC MOUNTING Thomas A. Willson, Wyomissing, Pa., assignor to Willson Products, Inc., Reading, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application September 24, 1938, Serial No. 231,609

2 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in ophthalmic mountings, and more particularly to improvements in the class of ophthalmic mountings commonly described as goggles.

Among the important objects of the present invention are to enhance the appearance of the goggles, increase the efficiency of protection, insure improved sanitary wearing comfort, provide space for ornamental insignia or identifying marking and permit compact folding for convenience in carrying, all in an ophthalmic mounting of neat pleasing design, sturdy construction, and economical manufacture.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection'with the accompanying drawing forming a part thereof; and it will be understood that many changes may be made in the arrangement of parts and details of construction without departing from the spirit of the invention as expressed by the accompanying claims. The invention, therefore, should not be limited to the exact details and arrangements shown and described, as the preferred form only has been shown by way of illustration.

Referring to the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a pair of goggles embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a side elevational View of said goggles showing the relationship of the parts when folded for storage;

Fig. 4 is a top plan View of the goggles in the condition shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a detailed elevational view of the central connecting element indicated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a rearward View of the element shown in Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a side View of the element shown in Fig. 5;

Fig. 8 shows, in full lines, a top plan view of a flexible nose-piece constituting part of the invention, and I Fig. 9 is a side view of the nose-piece shown in Fig. 8, illustrated in the position indicated in Fig. 3.

In the art of protective devices goggles have in recent years received an increasing amount of attention from safety engineers and industrial designers having in View not only economical manufacture, but better construction and improved safety, with greater wearing comfort andmore pleasing general appearance.

Many practical improvements have been developed which materially have lessened the eye strain or risk inherent in certain uses and occupations, but frequently such improved devices have proven to be relatively expensive to manufacture as well as uncomfortable to the wearer.

The present invention features special construction for the goggles whereby they are enabled desirably to conform to the contours of the face and extend around the eyes so as practically to exclude all side rays or glare from entering the eyes, as well as flying particles without the use of unsightly and expensive side shields, which is accomplished in a stream-line effect by the particular shape of the mounting as shown. By providing a fan-shaped arcuate shield member between the lenses, the heretofore unprotected up per bridge of the nose is covered and the eyes shielded against entry of any rays or glare between the lenses, and flying particles excluded. This is accomplished while rendering the goggles more comfortable, through the provision of a cushioning nose-piece and flexible temples. Not only is the cushioning nose-piece flexible to permit the folding of the goggles to high compact conditions without damage, but it is readily removable to permit sanitary cleansing or renewing aft-er wear. The central shield element also provides an ornamental form to attractively display a trademark or other insignia on the frontal surface thereof. 1

In the present invention, the form of goggles shown as embodying the invention, comprises broadly a pair of lens rims or framings Il-l I, each containing a lens 12. The lens rims are joined by a connector or bridging element I3 and supported on the face by flexible temples l5, which are pivoted on the end ear pieces I6.

Referring particularly to Figures 2 and 4, it will be observed that the framings ll; lenses [2, and bridge connector F3 are gently curved or bowed in order to cause them to correspond closely to the contours of the face and extend rearwardly so as to enclose the eyes and exclude side rays, glare or flying particles from entering, without the use of side shields heretofore found necessary, thus giving maximum protection and a pleasing stream-lined appearance.

On their adjacent ends, lens framings II have trunnion portions I! which extend vertically and are hingedly engaged with bridge connector 13 by lateral ears I9l9, formed thereon. The mounting described is simple and economical to manufacture, and effective to permit the pivoting of the lens framings with respect to the bridge connector 13 through an arc whereby their full flexibility and adjustability is derived.

Bridge connector l3 projects upwardly in the form of a fan-shaped shield 20 which generally corresponds to the contour of the lens ramings l I and is bowed to follow the surface of the forehead, said shield therebetween serving as a nose closure which prevents rays or glare from striking the eye on an angle from between the lenses, as well as excluding flying particles. The fanshaped shield 20 is susceptible of considerable minute ornamentation as to configuration and surface. However, in the present embodiment, it is contemplated that the shield will remain relatively plain in appearance and that the forward surface 2! thereof be utilized to receive the trade-mark of the dealer or any other desirable advertising or business indicia or insignia. In the present invention it is contemplated that lens framings H and connector l3 will be formed of metal stock. However, it will be apparent that the invention is fully adaptable to advantageous practice by manufacturing said parts of other material, such as celluloid, shell, phenolic condensation or other plastic moldable material.

The bridge connector plate I3 is formed at the bottom with a rearward projection 23 having straight edges 24 preferably characterized by spaced projecting lateral lugs 25, the latter lugs serving to hold thereon an integral flexible nosepiece 21. Nose-piece 21 is preferably of resilient or flexible material as soft rubber, but may be manufactured of any other moldable cushioning material. In the present embodiment it consists of an arcuate web portion 28 shaped to correspond with the upper part of the nose and having a molded projection 29 formed with a recess 3] through which extends rearward plate projection 23. It will be observed that the dimensions of rearward projection 23 at the straight edges 24 and the recess 3| are shown to correspond so as to enable the rubber of the nose-piece to grip the projection when in position thereon. The nose-piece thus is held against dislocation by the lugs 25 which extend therebeyond. Although the lugs 25 function to maintain the nose-piece normally in position on the rearward projection due to the resiliency of the nose-piece material, it will be understood that same may readily be removed or applied manually. This latter facility enables the user to remove the nose-piece for sanitary cleansing when desired, after which the same may be reinstalled on the rearward projection 23. Similarly, the nose pieces may be supplied severally in order that a used or damaged nose-piece may be discarded and conveniently replaced by a new nose-piece,

it being feasible to manufacture such nose-pieces with a standard recess 3| to enable different types thereof to be effectively held on the projection 23.

Since the primary purpose of the nose-piece 21 is comfortably to support the goggles on the nose, and the normal pressure incident thereto is centered immediately under the relatively solid projection 29, the end portions 3232 at either side thereof while shaped to conform with the surface of the nose are deliberately made quite flexible, as indicated in Fig. 8, for the following purpose. Such flexibility of the ends 32, when the goggles are folded for packaging, storage, or carrying in the pocket, as indicated in Fig. 4, will flex and permit the lens holders to be safely folded in flat condition which would not be possible with a rigid nose-piece, the ends being bent by lens contact without damage to the latter. This ability to fold to a compact form is a great advantage in conveniently carrying in a small case as well as compactness for packaging and shipping.

Due to the described conformation of the lens framings, lenses; and connector I3, an effective and reliable eye protector is provided of pleasing streamlined appearance, and improved usefulness in excluding both direct and indirect entry of rays or glare to the eyes, as Well as any flying particles. This is accomplished in a comfortable goggles by use of the cushioning nose-piece and the flexible temples.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that I have provided a simple, efficient and economical ophthalmic mounting. Although the present embodiment has necessarily been described in many details, it will be understood that the invention is not to be limited thereby other than by the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In an ophthalmic mounting, a spacing element, a pair of lenses hinged thereon, the space between said lenses being of predetermined extent and less than conventional nose width, a bridge connecting element therefor having a rigid projection centered between said lenses, and a renewable relatively soft nose cushion on the rigid projection, said cushion being longer than said lens spacing, comfortably to embrace the nose and yieldable to avoid fracturing lenses when the latter are folded thereon.

2. In an ophthalmic mounting, a pair of spaced lens-rim-engaging framing wires having parallel vertical hinge-trunnion portions at their adjacent ends, and a spacing hinge-connecting plate for said framing wires having lateral hinge ear adapted to pivotally engage said framing wire trunnion portions, said plate having an integral widened light-excluding upward extension substantially filling the space between said framing wires above said hinge ears, and a bottom rearwardly extending return-bend plate extension provided at its free end with a flexible nose cushion of greater Width than the lateral spacing of said plate hinge ears and yieldable to avoid lens fracturing when said framing wires are folded on their hinge connections.

THOMAS A. VVILLSON. 

